Risk vs reward

Author: IAN HEADS
Date: 21/06/1998
Words: 489

Publication: Sun Herald
Section: Sport
Page: 111

TWENTY-ONE years on, Graham "Shovels" Olling understands the temptation
factor that leads footballers over the edge and into the world of steroids. In
1978, the Australian prop made history and the headlines when he revealed that
he had undertaken a course of anabolic steroids.

In rugby league, he was the first.

"I don't condone it," he said yesterday. "With the rules as they are now,
they are risking careers.

"But with the rewards that exist in rugby league today, I can understand some
blokes weighing it all up - the health risks, the cheating aspects of it - and
deciding to take the chance.

"There's such a lot on offer in sport today - money, prestige - that it will
keep happening."

Olling, the former Easts, Parramatta and Australian prop forward, has looked
on with a quizzical eye at league's growing drugs storm during the week.

Now living in Brisbane, he had an inkling that his phone might ring one day
and he would be pitchforked back into the news.

By today's standards, as footballers confront a bewildering range of
"supplements", some OK, some not, some borderline, Olling's was a modest affair.

Under strict medical supervision he undertook a six-week course of steroids
in the off-season of 1977-78, five milligrams a day. Olling did nothing illegal:
steroid use was not banned in league then.

"I didn't understand it at the time, but knowing what I know now, I realise
that I was only on therapeutic doses," Olling explained yesterday.

"It was just something I tried. A lot of people try different things through
life."

The program, supervised by a doctor associated with Sydney's City
Tattersall's Club, went hand-in-hand with an intensive six-week training
program.

In 1978 he had the best season of an admirable, hard-working career, playing
four Tests, two of them on the Kangaroo tour where he proved a fine team man and
strong performer.

Olling has no idea what effect the steroid program had on him and his career.

"I honestly don't think it did too much for me," he said.

"I put on a little bit of weight.

"But I was training six days a week then, and I'm inclined to think that
anything I got, I reckon I got through the work I did."

Olling believes he suffered no health after-effects of the comparatively
light steroids program.

Today, while understanding the mind-set of players who do stray in the '90s,
he counsels them against it.

"With the way the game is today, with interchange, if blokes do the right
training they will have the endurance to do what has to be done," he said.

Olling is still bemused at the fuss his own actions caused.

"It was just something I did," he said. "I didn't think it was any drama.